Wolves

Wolves(canis lupus) thrive in Crystal Prism, and while there are no obvious physiological differences to real life wolves in most cases, there are a variety of sub-species including the galiugalius found in Moonfire. It is extremely rare for wolves not to appear in any given location.

Also called "wolf shifters", galiugalius may be any known wolf subspecies. Most hide in plain sight as well as they can, but due the punishment the Creator placed on them, they cannot remove all traces of their true forms. A galiugalius's hair will always match his or her fur, and eye color never changes. Their default human form's clothes also mimic their pelts.

A drifter is what humans call a lone or dispersal wolf. They are on average wolves that have left either their birth pack or a pack they joined to search for a territory of their own. They can also be remnants of a disbanded pack, or wolves that have been exiled.

A wolf is exiled if it endangers the survival of the pack, or disputes a Leader’s authority once too often. This means that they are given a certain amount of time to leave, and they will be killed if they are ever caught within the territory afterwards.

What humans originally called the Alpha, the Leader is one half of the breeding pair as well as the highest-ranking member of the pack. Their counter-part is called the Lead Male or Lead Female accordingly.

"The Creator made each to fill it's role. It's when we step outside what he made us for that problems come. Never let the Destroyer tell you that you should be more than you are. That you deserve more than what you've been given.You were given the skills to get what's yours."

Like most non-humans in Crystal Prism, wolves believe in the Creator and the Destroyer. They believe in an afterlife, a paradise where hunting is easy and there is no fighting. The path to this place is known as the Star Road. Wolves also believe in three kinds of spirit wolves: Nightriders, Star Road Runners, and the Spirit of the Wolf.

A Nightrider is essentially the guardian spirit guide of each wolf pack. Similar to the belief that the first person buried in a cemetery would have to guard it from evil, often the first adult pack member to die is said to become that pack’s Nightrider. Nightriders refrain from running the Star Road in order to look after the pack. But whenever a pack member dies, he or she has the choice to replace of the current Nightrider so they may rest at last.

Star Road Runners are individual guides; they are usual family members that guard and guide a living relative. Often the Star Road Runner is so close to the living wolf that they cannot abandon them, and so chooses to stay and watch over their relative until they can depart together.

The Spirit of the Wolf is a soldier and messenger of the Creator. Her name is Seeonee, which means “peaceful warrior”. She is a pure white wolf, but all mammals save humans are hers to protect and guide.

All spirit wolves have some things in common. They leave no scent whenever they appear, which often throws the wolf or wolves they visit. They can appear either transparent or solid depending on the situation. The most well-known trait, however, is a habit to almost talk in riddles. A spirit wolf usually only tells you what they feel you need to know, then vanishes before you can ask questions. Seeonee is the worst at this, as everything she says is in rhyme, making her messages all the harder to comprehend.

Wolves speak two main languages, their own and common speech. They are capable of learning to comprehend other languages, and galiugalius often speak whatever the local human language is. Zephyr even learned to read English.

Wolves will usually name a pup for traits they express, such as Tree Whispers for a soft-spoken female, or for their place of birth as with Moonriver. Some packs will not name a pup until it has passed its first winter, while others name them the day they emerge from the den. They also often pass names down, though it is rare for two pack members to bear the same name in their lifetime. Sometimes, due to ties either humans, dragons, or both, some names are obvious hand-me-downs, such as Nicodemus.

Wolves can mix with other canines Galiugalius sometimes mate with humans. Both have mixed with dragons, though how that works is very much a mystery. Some wolves view the product of such mixed breedings with disgust, others treat them much as they would members of their non-wolf parent's species, while still others treat them the same as other wolves.

Also called "golden or yellow eyes", the first wolves in Aufaniae were European ones that came to the world with the early members of the Liberi de Lupus. They have since spread to every known landmass, forming packs that have held the same territories for generations.

Cutler's love of wolves is usually traced back to kindergarten and the "wolf" she saw behind the school building. Its also possible it began when her father explained the origins of dogs. Whatever the reason or source, wolves are one of her major fascinations.